Desert Valleys FCU Picks Interns for the Summer

Jonathan Neely, left, and Christal Hoang are interning this summer at Desert Valleys FCU, courtesy of an NCUA grant.

The $23.5 million Desert Valleys FCU announced Thursday it has selected not one, but two paid interns for its summer internship program.

The program was made possible by an NCUA grant, said CEO Eric Bruen in a release.

The internship program at the Ridgecrest, Calif., credit union requires considerably more than fetching coffee and assembling new member kits.

The three-part program provides each intern with an opportunity to gain education about the credit union system while experiencing first-hand the day-to-day operations of a credit union.

The first part involves a 40-course online training catalog to be completed during the internship. The second involves direct member interaction and credit union operational involvement, and the third part requires interns to develop a video presentation on the program and the products and services of a credit union.

The two will present their videos at a local Rotary Club meeting and Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

Jonathan Neely, a junior at California Baptist University, and Christal Hoang, a sophomore at Cerro Coso College, were selected for the positions and began work at the 4,000-member credit union on June 16. Each was selected from amongst 15 applicants for the position, Desert Valleys said.

“The best part of this program is the chance to bring in young energetic minds into the credit union world.” Bruen said. “We believe that there is so much to learn about the critical differences between banks and credit unions and Jonathan and Christal are perfect examples of how this education can build future generations.”